Heel-Toe Downshift Technique  

Friday, March 7, 2008

The heel-toe downshift is a fundamental technique to driving fast through corners. During a heel-toe downshift, you'll be steering with the right hand, shifting with the left hand, clutching with the left foot, and working both the brake and gas pedals with the right foot -- all at exactly the same time.



The downshift begins with a full throttle acceleration towards a corner.

Lift the right foot from the gas pedal and press the brake pedal.


Just before the braking is done, the left foot depresses the clutch pedal.

The left hand begins the downshift.

The right foot is still applying, but easing up on the brake pressure as the car approaches the turn-in, then the foot rotates so the heel is above the corner of the gas pedal.

As the shift passes through neutral, the right heel gives a quick push of the gas pedal to rev the engine quickly (the ball of the foot is still on the brake easing up even more).


The left foot releases the clutch, the right foot rotates off the gas. Done correctly the RPMs generated by the throttle blip above matches the RPMs needed, and as the clutch is released the engine engages smoothly with the current wheel speed. There should be no forward or braking lurch when the clutch is let go.

The right foot completes the braking with a smooth release.

The right foot moves over to the gas pedal to assume the normal position at first only to maintain the pressure needed to sustain the vehicle speed throught the first part of the corner. Then pressure is gradually applied to accelerate out of the turn.



[Source:Turnfast]

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